S K 

4-43 

./\5 
HIT 



jllvrcU ]jAoi^i 



9 



'vjA(y\ ^ Q cu^a a; ouH . 



\j 



V7. 



Zbc State of TRbotfC Aslant) 



Jt'^7 




Bird and Game Laws 



OF 



Rhode Island 



Revised to 

JUNE 1, 1917 



Issued by the 
Goinmissioners of Birds 



^be State of IRbofte HsIaiiC) ^ 




Bird and Game Laws 



OF 



Rhode Island 



Revised to 

JUNE 1, 1917 



Issued by Ihe 
Commissioners of Birds 



0. of D. 



INDEX 

.f General Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 136 

Section 

1. Penalty for killing or selling Mild birds. 

2. Penalty for pursuing with intent to kill wild birds. 

3. Penalty for disturbing nests or eggs of birds. 

4. Close season for shore birds, water-fowl and upland 

game birds. 

5. Open season for same, 

6. Penalty for sale of quail, partridge and woodcock. 

7. Exemption of English sparrows, English starling, 

hawks, owls and crows. 

8. Close season on certain shore birds, Hungarian 

partridge and wood duck. 

9. Penalty for sending birds outside the state. 

10. Penalty for trapping quail or partridge and the use 
of certain kinds of weapons, and hunting one 
hour before sunrise or after sunset. 

Possession evidence of killing. 

Penalty for killing homing pigeon. 

Penalty for detaining same. 

Penalty for hunting on land of another Avithout 
permission. 
5. Permitting the killing of birds for scientific 
purposes. 

Penalty for hunting from power boat. 

Repealed. 

Repealed. 

Fines, how disposed of. 



4 

Commissioners of Birds, appointment of, 

Commissioners of Birds, duties of, 

Deputy Commissioners, appointment of and their 

duties. 
Powers of Commissioners of Birds and their 

deputies. 
Search warrants, how procured ; disposal of seized 

game. 
Penalty for hunting on posted land. 
Repealed. 



20, 
21 
22 

23 

24 

25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 

33. Close season on Warwick Neck. 

34. Penalty for violation of Sec. 33. 

35. Game birds or animals may not be kept in certain 

places of business. 

36. Penalty for violation of Sec, 35, or for compromis- 

ing any violation of bird and game law. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 381 

Section 

1. Hunting licenses, must be obtained. Certain 
- - exceptions to same. 

2. Licenses to be issued by town clerks. 

3. Fees for licenses. 

4. Licen'ses, how procured. 



5. Licenses must be in possession. 

6. Penalty for violations of this chapter. 

7. License fees, how disposed of. 

8. Commissioners of birds shall enforce this chapter. 

9. Deputies shall not collect portion of fines under 

certain conditions. 

10. Enacting clause. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 1230 

Section 

1. Skunk, muskrat and mink, close season for, 

2. May be killed on own land. 

General Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 137 

Section 

L Rabbit hare and gray squirrel, close season for. 

2. Use of ferrets prohibited. 

3. Possession of ferret while hunting prohibited. 

4. Restriction on hunting deer. 

5. Deer, provisions for killing same on own land. 

6. Penalty for violations of sections 4 and 5. 

7. Commissioners shall enforce this chapter. 

8. Commissioners or deputies shall not be required 

to furnish surety. 

9. Commissioners or deputies may arrest without 

warrant. 

10. Wire snares prohibited and penalties for same 

11. Persons injured by violations of this chapter may 

recover damages. 



6 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 1076 

Section 

1. Steel traps, restrictions as to size. 

2. Trapping on land of another, written permission 

necessary. Traps must be visited every twenty- 
four hours. 

3. Traps, how they must be placed. 

Public Laws of Rhode Island 
Chapter 1513 

Section 

1. Licenses for propagation of wild birds and game 

quadrupeds. 

2. Licenses may be revoked. 



General Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 136 

OF BIRDS 

(As amended.) 
Section 1. Every person who shall take, kill, destroy, 
buy, sell or offer for sale, or have in his possession 
any wild bird, or birds, including grebes, loons, gulls, 
terns, bitterns, herons, cranes, doves, woodpeckers, 
nighthawks, meadowlarks, commonly called 'rharsh 
quair and blue jays at any season of the year, except 
as hereinafter provided shall be fined not exceeding 
twenty dollars for each of such birds. (See Chapter 
125.5.) 

Sec. 2. Every person who shall pursue with intent 
to kill any wild bird, except as hereinafter provided, 
shall be fined twenty dollars for each offence. 

Sec. 3. Every person who shall wilfully disturb or 
destroy the nest or eggs of any wild bird, except as 
hereinafter provided, shall be fined twenty dollars for 
each offence. 

Sec. 4. Every person who shall take, kill, or pursue 
with intent to kill, any of the anatidae, commonly 
known as 'water fowl,' including any torant, wild duck 
or wild goose between the fifteenth day of February 
and the first day of October next following, any rail, 
black-breasted plover, golden plover, Wilson snipe, 
greater yellowlegs, or lesser yellowlegs, between the 
thirtieth day of November and the fifteenth day of 



August following, ruffed grouse, commonl}' called 
'partridge,' quail, commonl}- called 'bob white,' wood- 
cock or pheasant between the thirty-first day of Decem- 
ber and the first day of November following, shall be 
fined not exceeding twenty dollars for each offence; and 
whoever shall buy, sell or offer for sale at any time 
of the year or have in his possession any rail, black- 
breasted plover, golden plover, Wilson snipe, greater 
or lesser 3'ellowlegs, ruffed grouse, quail or woodcock 
during the time that they are herein protected by law, 
whenever or wherever killed shall be fined not ex- 
ceeding twenty dollars for each such bird. (See Chap- 
ter 1255.) 

Sec. 5. Sections 1 and 2 of this chapter shall not 
apply to the shooting of Anatidae, including brant, wild 
ducks and wild geese from the first day of October 
to the fifteenth day of February next following, inclu- 
sive; woodcock from the first day of November to the 
thirty-first day of December, inclusive; rails, black- 
breasted and golden plover, Wilson snipe, commonly 
called 'Jack Snipe,' greater and lesser 5^ellowlegs from 
the fifteenth day of August to the thirtieth day of No- 
vember, inclusive ; ruffed grouse, commonly called 
'partridge,' quail, commonly called 'bob white,' and 
pheasant, from the first day of November to the thirty- 
first day of December, inclusive : Provided, however, 
that this section shall not be construed as affecting the 
close season for wood duck as provided for in Section 
«- of this chapter. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 6,, • -Whoever sells, or offers for sale or has in 
his possession with intent to sell, any ruffed grouse, 



commonly called partridge, quail, or any woodcock 
whenever or whever such bird may be taken or killed 
shall be punished by a fine of twenty dollars for each 
bird, one-half thereof to the use of the complainant 
and one-half thereof to the use of the state. 

Sec. 7. Sections 1, 3, and 3 of this chapter shall not 
apply to the killing of, or the destruction of the nests 
or eggs of English sparrows, English starlings, hawks 
(except fish hawks), owls and crows, and crow-black- 
birds, at any season of the year, by any person on his 
own land. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 8. Every person who shall take, kill or pursue 
with intent to kill, destroy, sell, buy, or offer .for sale, 
or have in his possession any wood duck, swan, or any 
of the Limicolae, commonly known as shore, marsh or 
beach birds, including curlew, dowitchers, dodwits, 
knots, phalaropes, plover, sandpipers, snipe, stilts, surf 
birds, turnstones and willett, before the first dLy of 
September nineteen hundred and eighteen, or any Hun- 
garian partridge before the first day of November, 
nineteen hundred and twenty, shall for each offence be 
fined not exceeding twenty dollars: Provided, that 
the words Hungarian partridge shall not be construed 
to apply to the birds commonly called partridge or 
ruffed grouse; and provided, further, that this section 
shall not be construed as affecting the close season for 
woodcock, black-breasted plover, golden plover, Wil- 
son snipe, greater yellowlegs or lesser yellowlegs as 
already provided for in Section 4 of this chapter. (See 
Chapter 1255.) 

- Sec. 9. Every person who shall carry or send be- 



10 

yond the limits of this state at any time any wild duck, 
wild swan, wild goose, rail, any of the Limicolae or 
shore, marsh, or beach birds, any woodcock, quail, com- 
monly called 'bob white,' or ruffed grouse, commonly 
called 'partridge,' shall be fined not exceeding twenty 
dollars for each of said birds. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 10. Every person who shall at any time of the 
year, take, kill or destroy any quail or partridge by 
means of any trap, snare, net or spring, or who shall 
construct, erect, set, repair, maintain or tend any trap, 
snare, net or spring, for the purpose of taking, killing 
or destroying any quail or partridge, or who shall 
shoot any water fowl by means or by use of any bat- 
tery, swivel, punt, or pivot gun, or who shall take, kill, 
or pursue with intent to kill any migratory game or 
insectivorous birds between one hour after sunset and 
one hour before sunrise, shall be fined for each offence 
not exceeding twenty dollars. (See Chapter 1255.) 

Sec. 11. Possession by any person of any bird dur- 
ing the time when the taking, killing or destruction of 
such bird is prohibited by this chapter, shall be evidence 
before any court of competent jurisdiction that such 
bird was taken, killed or destroyed in violation of this 
chapter. 

Sec. 12. Every person who shall wilfully maim, 
shoot, or otherwise kill any antwerp or homing-pigeon, 
commonly called and known by the name of "carrier- 
pigeon," either while in flight or at rest, shall be fined 
for each offence not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sec. 13. Every person who shall wilfully entrap, 



11 

catch or detain any antwcrp or homing-pigeon, com- 
monly called and known by the name of "carrier- 
pigeon," shall be fined for each offence not exceeding 
twenty dollars : Provided, however, that such pigeon 
shall at the time have the name of the owner stamped 
upon its wing or tail, or have a band with the owner's 
name, initial or number on its leg. 

Sec. 14. Every person who shall, between the 
fifteenth day of December and the fifteenth day of 
October next following, shoot at or kill any bird upon 
land not owned or occupied by himself, and without 
permission of the owner or occupant thereof, shall 
forfeit and pay to the owner or occupant thereof five 
dollars for the first offence and ten dollars for every 
subsequent offence, in addition to the damages sus- 
tained. (See Chapter 581.) 

Sec. 15. Any person above the age of fifteen years, 
having a certificate from the curator of the museum 
of zoology of Brown University, the president of the 
Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic 
Arts, or from any incorporated society of natural hist- 
ory or college in the state, to the effect that said per- 
son is engaged in the scientific study of ornithology or 
is making collections in the interest of or for said in- 
stitutions, or any one of them, may take the nest and 
eggs of, or at any season of the year may take or kill, 
any undomesticated birds, except those named in sec- 
tions four and five. 

Sec. 16. Every person who shall at any time of the 
year shoot, kill, or pursue with intent to shoot or kill, 



12 

any water-fowl from, by means of, or by the use of, 
any sailboat, motor-boat, or launch, or any boat pro- 
pelled by steam, gasoline, kerosene, or naphtha, or 
from, by means of, or by the use of any boat except 
what is commonly known as a skiff and propelled by 
oars, shall be punished by a fine of twenty dollars for 
each and every offence. (See Chapter 1043.) 

Sec. 17. Repealed. 

Sec. 18. Repealed 

Sec. 19. All fines recovered by virtue of this chap- 
ter shall enure one-half thereof to the use of the state 
and one-half therepf to the use of the complainant, 
and all prosecutions therefor shall be commenced 
within ninety days after the commission of the offence 
and not afterwards. 

Sec. 20. There shall be five commissioners of birds, 
who shall serve without compensation. At the January 
session of the general assembly in the year A. D. nine- 
teen hundred eleven, and in each third year thereafter, 
the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, 
shall appoint five persons to be commissioners of birds 
to succeed the commissioners then in office; and the per- 
sons so appointed shall hold their offices until the first 
day of February in the third year after their appoint- 
ment. Any vacancy which may occur in said offices 
when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the 
-governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, 
with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some 
person's to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the 
term. 



13 

Sec. 21. The commissioners of birds shall protect 
wild birds and wild animals throughout the state, and 
shall prosecute every person who shall violate any of 
the laws of this state relating to wild birds or wild 
animals, and the setting or attendance of snares and 
traps.v Whenever complaint is made by said commis- 
sionefs, or either of them, or by their deputies, of any 
violation of any of the laws of this state relating to wild 
birds or wild animals, or relating to the setting or at- 
tendance of snares and traps, they shall not be required 
either by themselves or by their deputies, to furnish 
surety for costs or be liable for costs on such com- 
plaint. (See Chapters 1385, 1535.) 

Sec. 22. Said commissioners in their discretion may 
appoint any number of deputies, and shall issue com- 
missions under their hands to said deputies, empower- 
ing them to execute the duties of such office, and shall 
record the names of said deputies with the secretary 
of state. It shall be the duty of the commissioners of 
birds and their deputies to enforce all of the laws of 
this state relating to wild birds and wild animals, and 
the setting or attendance of snares or traps for wild 
birds or wild animals, and they shall have the power 
to execute all warrants and search warrants issued for 
the violation of the laws of this state with reference 
to wild birds or wild animals, and the setting or at- 
tending of snares or traps for wild birds or wild ani- 
mals, and they shall have the power to arrest without 
warrant any person whom they find violating such 
laws; Provided, that any person so arrested without 



14 

warrant shall not be detained longer than twenty-four 
hours. (See Chapters 1385, 1535.) 

Sec. 23. The commissioners of birds and their dep- 
uties shall have power to make search where they have 
reason to believe that wild birds or wild animals or any 
parts thereof, are possessed in violation of law and 
without search warrant to examine the contents of any 
boat, car, wagon or other vehicle, box, locker, basket, 
crate, game bag, or other package, or the contents of 
any building other than a dwelling house, to ascertain 
whether any of the provisions of the laws of this state 
relating to the protection of wild birds or wild animals 
have been or are being violated, and to use such force 
as may be necessary for the purpose of such examina- 
tion and inspection; and with a search warrant to 
search and examine the con.tents of any building or 
dwelling house; seize all wild birds or wild animals, 
or any parts thereof, possessed in violation of the law, 
or showing evidence of illegal taking, and hold the 
same subject to the order of the court issuing such 
search warrant. If any such wild bird or wild animals 
shall be seized without search warrant under the pro- 
visions of this section, the same procedure shall be pur- 
sued as is hereinafter in this chapter provided for the 
forfeiture of wild birds and animals taken under a 
search warrant. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 2-1. Whenever complaint is made on oath to 
any -magistrate authorized to issue warrants in crim- 
inal cases, that the complainant believes and has rea- 
sonable tauSe to believe that wild birds or wild ani- 
mals are beilig possessed contrary to law, or that the 



15 

laws in relation to wild birds or wild animals have been 
or are being violated in any building or place, such 
magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause 
for such belief, shall issue a search warrant author- 
izing any officer competent to serve a warrant, to 
search such place or building; but no search shall be 
made after sunset, unless specially authorized by the 
magistrate upon satisfactory cause shown; and all such 
wild birds or wild animals shall be taken and be kept 
by such officer in some proper place of security until 
they can be proceeded against in the manner herein- 
after provided ; and the officer shall summon the owner 
or keeper, if any be named in the complaint, if to be 
found by him, and the warrant shall be returned by 
said officer with his doings thereon, as soon as may be, 
to the district court having jurisdiction of the same 
in the district where such wild birds or wild animals 
shall have been seized. 

If the owner or keeper be not named in the warrant 
or not found, the court shall order a notice of such 
seizure to be given by posting up written notices in at 
least three public places in the town or city, one of 
which shall be on the building or near the place, where 
the seizure was made and such other notice shall be 
given as the court shall deem to be necessary. 

All wild birds and wild animals seized under this 
chapter, which were possessed or kept in violation of 
law, shall be forfeited to the state, and the officer mak- 
ing such seizure, or an officer designated by the court 
for the purpose, shall forthwith proceed to prosecute 
for the forfeiture thereof in the manner provided by 
Jaw. 



16 

If the cause of forfeiture be proved, the court be- 
fore which the complaint or information shall be tried 
shall enter sentence of forfeiture to the state against 
said wild birds or wild animals ; and any person ag- 
grieved by such sentence may appeal therefrom to the 
superior court according to the provisions relating to 
criminal appeals from district courts. If the cause of 
forfeiture be not proved, then all such seized wild birds 
or wild animals shall be forthwith restored to the 
proper owner thereof or to the place from which they 
were taken by the officer who seized the same. 

Upon entry of sentence of forfeiture against such 
wild birds or wild animals, if no appeal be then taken 
or no recognizance given as prescribed in other crim- 
inal cases, the court shall forthwith issue a warrant to 
the officer, commanding him forthwith to destroy or 
to distribute to pubHc hospitals, or if alive, to liberate 
said wild birds or wild animals ; and every such officer 
shall execute said warrant and shall return the same, 
with his doings thereon, to the court, within such time 
as the court shall direct. In case of final judgment for 
the state on appeal, the court entering such final judg- 
ment shall issue the like warrant, as aforesaid, for the 
destruction or liberation of the wild birds or wild ani- 
mals seized. 

There shall be allowed and paid to the officer who 
shall make the same for every seizure made under the 
'foregoing provisions, the sum of five dollars, with two 
.dollars additional for every day after the first that such 
officer s'hall be necessarily employed in causing the 
wild birds -or wild animals seized to be condemned and 
ten cents for every mile that he shall necessarily travel 



17 

therein, together with such reasonable sum as the 
court may deem just for necessary expense incurred 
in providing storage for wild birds or wild animals 
seized, pending proceedings for condemnation, all 
which costs shall be taxed in the bill of costs and the 
amount allowed by the court in which final judgment 
shall be rendered to such officers, shall be paid by the 
state auditor out of any money in the treasury 
not otherwise appropriated : Provided, that no fees 
herein provided to be paid to the officer making such 
seizure shall be paid to any officer, wdio at the time of 
such seizure is under pay as a deputy commissioner 
of birds. (See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 25. Whoever shall enter upon the land of an- 
other for the purpose of either shooting, trapping, or 
fishing when the same shall be conspicuously posted 
by the owner or occupant with notices that shooting, 
trapping, or fishing is prohibited therpon, or whoever 
shall without right mutilate, destroy, or remove any 
such notice, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of this chapter 
are replaced by the provisions of Chapter 381. 

Sec. 33. No person shall take, kill, destroy or pur- 
sue or in any manner molest any wild bird at any sea- 
son of the year for a term of five years, beginning July 
1, 1914, on Warwick Neck, in the town of Warwick, 
south of the tracks of the Rhode Island Suburban Rail- 
way Company from the easterly approach to the bridge 
at Warwick Cove, so-called, to Rocky Point station and 
thence in a line easterly from said station to Narra- 
gansett Bay. (See Chapter 1085.) 



18 

Sec. 34. Every person who shall violate the pro- 
visions of the foregoing section shall be punished by a 
fine of twenty-five dollars for each offence. (See 
Chapter 1085.) 

Sec. 35. No person,, firm, corporation or association 
dealing in poultry, meats, fish, groceries or other pro- 
visions or engaged in. the cold storage business, or any 
other business which requires, or has an ice box or 
cold storage or freezing vault, of any description, for 
use in connection with his, their or its business, and no 
hotel, club, public house, restaurant, or victualers house 
shall have in his, their or its possession, at any time 
of year, at such place of business, or at any other place 
where any of his, their or its provisions, which are for 
use in his, their or its business, are kept, any bird or 
animal the sale of which is prohibited by this chapter. 
(See Chapter 1385.) 

Sec. 36. Whoever violates the provisions of Sec- 
tion 35 of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of 
not exceeding twenty dollars for each bird or animal 
or part thereof found in his possession in respect to 
which the violation occurs ; any commissioner or deputy 
who shall compromise or settle any violation of the 
bird and game law out of court, shall be guilty of a 
misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not ex- 
ceeding one hundred dollars. (See Chapter 1385.) 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 381 

AN ACT TO REQUIRE AND PROVIDE FOP 
THE REGISTRATION OF HUNTERS. 

(As amended.) 

Section 1. No person shall hunt, pursue, take, or 
kill any wild bird or animal, in this state, without hav- 
ing first obtained a license as hereinafter provided: 
Provided, that nothing in this act shall be construed 
as affecting the right of a bona fide resident of this 
state or his immediate family to hunt, without such 
license, on land owned by him, or on land leased by 
him and on which he is actually domiciled, and which 
land is used exclusively for agricultural purposes, and 
not for club shooting purposes, nor as affecting in any 
way the provisions of the laws relating to trespass, nor 
as authorizing the pursuit, taking, w^ounding, or killing, 
or the possession of wild birds or animals contrary to 
any laws now in force or which may be hereafter en- 
acted, nor shall the possession of such license grant or 
confer any privilege not enjoyed prior to the passage 
of this act. 

Sec. 2. The clerk of every town or city shall 
upon the application of any person and the pay- 
ment of the license fee and recording fee hereinafter 
provided, issue to such person a license to pursue, 
hunt, and kill game in the state of Rhode Island 
during the open season. Provided, however, that 



20 

no license shall be granted to any person under 
fifteen years of age. Every such license shall be 
printed or stamped upon some durable and waterproof 
material and shall bear the name, age, occupation, 
place of residence, and an identifying description of the 
licensee, and shall expire on the thirty-first day of 
December next succeeding the date of issue, and shall 
be in the form prescribed by the secretary of state. 
(See Chapter 690.) 

Sec. 3. Every bona fide resident of the state, who 
is a citizen of the United States, shall pay for such 
license a fee of one dollar and a recording fee of 
fifteen cents. Every non-resident of this state, who 
is a citizen of the United States, shall pay for such 
license a fee of ten dollars and a recording fee of 
fifteen cents. Every unnaturalized, foreign-born per- 
son shall pay for such license a fee of fifteen dol- 
lars and a recording fee of fifteen cents. Provided, 
that any non-resident, who is a citizen of the United 
States, and who owns real estate in Rhode Island 
assessed for taxation at a valuation of not less than 
five hundred dollars; and any non-resident, who is 
a citizen of the United States, and who is member 
of a club or association incorporated for the purpose 
of shooting or fishing, and incorporated prior to Janu- 
ary 1st, 1909, which club or association owns real 
estate in Rhode Island assessed for taxation at a 
valu'ation of not less than one thousand dollars, may 
procure such license upon the payment of a license 
fee of erne" dollar and a recording fee of fifteen cents. 
Each non-resident hunting license shall enable the 



21 

licensee to carry from the state not more than ten 
wild fowl or birds, the exportation of which is pro- 
hibited by law in any one calendar year ; Provided, 
that the owner thereof shall carry them open to view 
for inspection. 

Sec. 4. Every person who may desire such license 
shall file an application with the clerk of the town 
or city wherein he resides, if a resident; and with 
the clerk of any town or city in this state, if a non- 
resident, properly sworn to, stating the name, age, 
occupation, place of residence, nationality, weighty 
height, and color of hair and eyes of the applicant 
for whom such license is wanted, and pay the fees 
as provided in this act. 

Sec. 5. Every person holding a license provided 
by this act shall have the same in his possession at 
all times while hunting in this state, and shall pre- 
sent the same for inspection to any person demand- 
ing the same ; and any person refusing to so present 
said license for inspection upon demand shall be 
liable to the same punishment as if he were hunt- 
ing without such license. A license shall not be 
valid before the licensee shall endorse his name in 
his own handwriting thereupon, and shall be good 
only for the person to whom it is issued, and any 
transfer or loan of such license shall work a for- 
feiture of the same. 

Sec. 6. Every person who shall violate any of the 
provisions of this act shall be punished by a fine of 
not less than twenty dollars nor more than fifty 



22 

dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, 
or both fine and imprisonment; and the license of any 
person convicted of violating any of the provisions of 
this act shall be forfeited, and no license shall be 
granted such person for a period of one year after 
such conviction ; and the same penalties shall be im- 
posed upon any person who shall be convicted of 
hunting, pursuing, or killing any wild bird or animal 
on a license which has been issued in the name of 
another person. 

Sec. 7. Every town or city clerk shall keep a record 
of all such licenses issued by him, which record shall 
be open to inspection by all officers authorized to make 
arrests, and by the general treasurer and the state 
auditor, or their agents, and by the commissioners of 
birds and their deputies ; and such clerk shall, on the 
first Monday in every month, pay to the general 
treasurer all moneys, except recording fees, received 
by him for such licenses issued during the month pre- 
ceding, which moneys are hereby appropriated to the 
use of the commissioners of birds for the preservation 
and propogation of birds and game; and the state 
auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders on the 
general treasurer from time to time for the payment 
of so much of the moneys, held by the treasurer under 
and by virtue of this act, as may be necessary, upon re- 
ceipt by him of properly authenticated vouchers. (See 
Chapter 529.) 

Sec. 8.' It shall be the duty of the commissioners 
of birds-, and their deputies, appointed in accordance 
with the provisions of Chapter 112 of the General 



23 

Laws or any amendments thereof, to enforce the pro- 
visions of this chapter, and to prosecute every person 
who shall violate the same. They shall have power to 
arrest, without warrant, every person whom they shall 
find killing, pursuing, or taking any wild animal or 
bird contrary to the provisions of this chapter; Pro- 
vided, that any person so arrested without warrant 
shall not be detained longer than twelve hours. When- 
ever complaint is made by said commissioners, or 
either of them, or by their deputies, of any violation 
of the provisions of this chapter, they shall not be 
required, either by themselves or by their deputies, to 
furnish surety for costs, or be liable for costs on such 
complaint. All fines recovered by virtue of this chap- 
ter shall enure one-half thereof to the use of the state 
and one-half thereof to the use of the complainant, 
and all prosecutions thereof shall be commenced within 
ninety days after the commission of the offense, and 
not afterwards. 

Sec. 9. Any deputy bird commissioner who is em- 
ployed by the commissioners, under pay, for a period 
exceeding two consecutive days at a time, shall not 
be entitled to any portion of fines imposed, in case of 
arrests and convictions, during such period of employ- 
ment, either under this act or Chapters 112 and 113 of 
the General Laws and the several acts in addition and 
amendment thereto. In such event the entire amount 
of fines imposed shall enure to the state. 

Sec. 10. This act shall take effect upon its passage, 
and Chapter 1456 of the Public Laws, passed April 23, 
1907, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent here- 
with are hereby repealed. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 1230 

AN ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF FUR- 
BEARING ANIMALS. 

Section 1. Any person who shall take, kill, destroy, 
pursue with intent to kill, or set, maintain or tend any 
trap or snare for the purpose of taking, killing or 
destroying any skunk, muskrat, raccoon or mink be- 
tween the fifteenth day of April and the first day of 
November in any year, shall be punished by a fine not 
exceeding twenty dollars for each offence. (See Chap- 
ter 1399.) 

Sec. 2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to 
prevent any person from taking or killing at any time 
of the year any skunk, muskrat, raccoon or mink upon 
his own land. 



General Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 137 

OF FERRETS, WEASELS, HARES, GRAY SQUIR- 
RELS AND DEER. 

(As Amended) 

Section 1. Every person who shall take, kill or de- 
stroy any undomesticated rabbit, hare, or gray squirrel 
between the thirty-first day of December and the. first 
day of November, next following, shall be punished 
by a fine of twenty dollars for each and every rabbit, 
hare, or gray squirrel so taken, killed or destroyed, 
one-half of said fine to the use of the complainant 
and the other half to the use of the state. (See Chap- 
ter 698.) 

Sec. 2. Every person who shall take, kill or destroy 
any rabbit or hare by the use of any ferret or weasel, 
shall be imprisoned in the county jail ten days for 
every such offence. 

Sec. 3. Every person who shall have in his pos- 
session any ferret or weasel while hunting for or after 
any hare or rabbit, or who shall be associated in hunt- 
ing" for hares or rabbits with others who shall have 
in their possession or under their control any ferret or 
weasel, shall be fined not exceeding five dollars for 
every such offence. 

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful to pursue or shoot deer 



26 

in this state except in accordance with the provisions 
of the following section. 

Sec. 5. Any person owning or occupying any farm 
or orchard and any person in his employ may, while 
on his own premises or the premises of his employer, 
kill any deer which shall be found destroying any 
crops, vegetables, or fruit trees belonging to such per- 
son or his employer : Provided, however, that no such 
person shall shoot any deer unless he has obtained 
from the secretary of state a permit so to do; and the 
secretary of state shall, upon application, issue to any 
responsible land owner, or his employees, a permit 
authorizing such person to shoot deer in accordance 
with the provisions of this section. No person shall 
pursue or shoot any deer except with a shotgun, or 
employ any missile larger than buck shot. 

Sec. 6. Any person violating the provisions of sec- 
tions four and five shall be fined not less than one 
hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for 
each offence. 

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the commissioners 
of birds and their deputies, appointed in accordance 
with the provisions of chapter one hundred thirty-six, 
to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prose- 
cute every person who shall violate the same. They 
shall have power to arrest, without warrant, every per- 
son ,whom they shall find pursuing with intent to kill, 
taking or killing, or having in his possession any un- 
domesticated rabbit, hare, gray squirrel or deer con- 
trary to the provisions of this chapter : Provided, that 



27 

any person so arrested without warrant shall not be 
detained longer than twelve hours. 

Sec. 8. Whenever complaint is made by said com- 
missioners, or either of them, or by their deputies of 
any violation of the provisions of this chapter, they 
shall not be required either by themselves or by their 
deputies to furnish surety for costs, or be liable for 
costs on such complaint. 

Sec. 9. Any commissioner or his deputy may seize 
without warrant any undomesticated rabbit, hare, gray 
squirrel, or deer found in the possession of any person 
at any time when the killing of the same is prohibited 
by law. 

Sec. 10. Whoever shall construct, erect, set, repair, 
maintain or tend any wire snare for the purpose of 
catching or killing any animal shall be punished by a 
fine of not less than fifty nor more than one hundred 
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than sixty nor more 
than ninety days, or both. One-half of said fine, if 
such be imposed, shall enure to the complainant, and 
one-half to the state. 

Sec. 11. Any person injured in person or property 
by the violation of the provisions of the preceding 
section may recover from the persons inflicting such 
injury twice the amount of such damage. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 1076 

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE USE OF TRAPS. 

Section 1. Any person who shall set, place, main- 
tain or tend a steel trap with a spread of more than 
six inches, or a steel trap with teeth jaws, or a "stop- 
thief" or choke trap with an opening of more than six 
inches, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding 
one hundred dollars. 

Sec. 2. Any person who shall set, maintain or tend 
a steel trap on enclosed land of another, without the 
consent in writing of the owner thereof, and any person 
who shall fail to visit at least once in twenty-four hours 
a trap set or maintained by him, shall be punished by 
a fine of not exceeding twenty dollars. 

Sec. 3. Any person who shall set, place, maintain or 
tend any steel trap, stop thief or choke trap for the 
purpose of catching or killing any wild animal, unless 
the same shall be placed in a hole, brush pile, stone 
wall or other protected place, so situated as to be in- 
accessible to any domestic animal, shall be punished 
by a fine of not exceeding twenty dollars. 



Public Laws of Rhode Island 
CHAPTER 1513 

AN ACT RELATIVE TO PROPAGATION AND 
SALE OF WILD BIRDS AND 
GAME QUADRUPEDS. 

Section 1. Upon written application to the commis- 
sioners of birds, a license may be granted in their dis- 
cretion, without charge, to any person to engage in the 
rearing, within an enclosure, of any wild bir(is or game 
quadrupeds, and to dispose of the same alive for pur- 
poses of propagation, under such rules and regulations 
as may be made from time to time by the commis- 
sioners. Such artificially propagated wild birds or 
game quadrupeds, if alive, may be bought, sold and had 
in possession at any season of the year for purposes 
of propagation. 

Sec. 2. Any and all licenses granted by said com- 
missioners of birds may be revoked by said commis- 
sioners at any time. 



Note. The Federal Game Laws as to migratory 
birds will be enforced by the Federal authorities in 
case of a conflict with the State Laws as to open 
seasons. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

III III 



■::pii\f^ 




